5 Folk Pop Music Artists You Need to Know
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Here are five folk pop music artists you need to know. Whether you’re a fan of folk music or pop music, these artists are sure to please.
Hozier
Irish singer-songwriter Hozier shot to fame in 2013 with his hit single “Take Me to Church.” Since then, he’s released a self-titled album and an EP, and he’s currently touring the world. His music is a mix of folk and pop, and he often tackles social and political issues in his lyrics.
Music Style
Folk pop is a genre of popular music that combines elements of folk music and pop music. Folk pop artists are often singer-songwriters who play their own acoustic guitars and write their own songs. The genre first became popular in the 1960s with artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and has since become popular with a new generation of artists such as Hozier, Mumford & Sons, and The Lumineers.
Notable Works
“Take Me to Church” and “From Eden” from the album Hozier
Hozier is a Irish singer, songwriter, and musician from County Wicklow. He rose to fame in 2013 with his debut single “Take Me to Church”, which has been certified quadruple platinum in Ireland and the US. His self-titled debut album was released in 2014 and reached number one in Ireland and the US. It has been certified five times platinum in Ireland and three times platinum in the US. His second album, Wasteland, Baby!, was released in 2019 and debuted at number one in several countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia.
Hozier’s music has been described as bluesy, passionate, soulful, and spiritual. He has said that he is influenced by a wide range of artists, including Patti Smith, Nina Simone, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Billie Holiday, Van Morrison, Jacques Brel, Leonard Cohen, Wanda Jackson, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, Maria McKee, Ryan Adams, The Frames, Hans Zimmer.
The Paper Kites
The Paper Kites are an Australian indie folk pop band that formed in Melbourne in 2010. The band consists of Sam Bentley, Christina Lacy, David Powys, Sam Rasmussen, and Kurt Rasmussen. The Paper Kites have released four studio albums, twelvefour, States, On the Train Ride Home, and Twelvefour. The band has toured internationally and in Australia.
Music Style
The Paper Kites are an Australian five-piece indie folk-pop band that formed in 2010. The band’s current line-up consists of Sam Bentley, Christina Lacy, David Powys, Sam Rasmussen and Josh Bentley. The group’s debut album States was released in 2012, followed by twelvefour in 2015 and On the Train Ride Home in 2017.
The band’s music has been described as ‘mellow’ and ‘ dreamy’, with a focus on guitars and vocal harmonies. Their sound has been compared to that of Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine and Bon Iver.
The Paper Kites have toured extensively throughout Australia, North America and Europe, both as headliners and supporting acts for other artists such as Of Monsters and Men, The Saint Clair County Affair and Angus & Julia Stone.
Notable Works
since their formation in 2010, The Paper Kites have released three studio albums and four extended plays. Their debut album, States, was released in 2013 and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album includes the singles “Feeling Fine”, “Young”, “St. Clarity” and “Down to the River”. Their second album, twelvefour, was released in 2015 and peaked at number 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It includes the singles “Electric Indigo”, “Renegade” and “Bloom”. The band’s third album, On the Prowl, was released in 2017 and peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It includes the singles “On the Prowl”, “Cellophane” and “Carry You”.
The Lumineers
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, The Lumineers are a folk pop band that has been taking the world by storm since their formation in 2002. The band is composed of Wesley Schultz on lead vocals and guitar, Jeremiah Fraites on drums and percussion, and Neyla Pekarek on cello and vocals. The Lumineers have a unique sound that combines the best of both worlds – the catchy melodies of pop music with the heart and soul of folk.
Music Style
The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The two main members are Wesley Schultz on guitar and vocals, and Jeremiah Fraites on drums and percussion. The band’s musical style has been described as Americana, folk-pop, and heartland rock.
The Lumineers’ musical style has been compared to that of Mumford & Sons, The Head and the Heart, Tim Ives & the Traditions, Of Monsters and Men, The Avett Brothers, Ben Howard, Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit, Fleet Foxes, Willy Mason and Vance Joy.
Notable Works
The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The two main members are Wesley Schultz on vocals and guitar and Jeremiah Fraites on drums and percussion. The band’s first album, self-titled The Lumineers, was released on April 3, 2012 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.
The Lumineers’s second album, Cleopatra, was released on April 8, 2016. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The group’s third album, III, was released on September 13, 2019. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 190,000 equivalent album units (of which 162,000 were in pure album sales).
The Lumineers have been nominated for three Grammy Awards and have won one American Music Award.
Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men is an Icelandic indie folk pop band that formed in 2010. The band is currently signed to Republic Records and released their debut album, My Head Is an Animal, in 2011. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The band’s single, “Little Talks”, was a worldwide hit and peaked at number one in Iceland, number four on the UK Singles Chart, and number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music Style
Folk pop is a subgenre of folk music and pop music. The genre is a blend of acoustic folk music and contemporary pop music, featuring elements of both genres in equal measure. Folk pop artists typically write their own material, and unlike traditional folk musicians, they often employ traditional pop structures such as verse-chorus form. Folk pop songs are generally shorter and catchier than traditional folk songs, and they often make use of modern production techniques such as multitracking.
Notable Works
Formed in 2010, Of Monsters and Men is a five-piece indie pop-folk band from Iceland. The band members are Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (vocals, guitar), Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson (vocals, guitar), Brynjar Leifsson (guitar), Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drums) and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson (bass).
The band’s debut album, My Head Is an Animal, was released in 2011 and included the hit single “Little Talks.” The album was a commercial success, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling more than 2 million copies worldwide. Of Monsters and Men’s second album, Beneath the Skin, was released in 2015 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The album includes the singles “Crystals” and “Empire.”
Mumford & Sons
Though they’ve been around for a while, Mumford & Sons only recently hit it big with their single “Little Lion Man.” The band has a unique sound that is a mix of folk and pop. If you’re a fan of either genre, you’ll definitely enjoy Mumford & Sons.
Music Style
Over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest in folk pop music. Folk pop is a genre that combines elements of folk music and pop music. It is often characterized by acoustic instruments, simple melodies, and lyrics about love and relationships.
Mumford & Sons is a British folk pop band that has been at the forefront of this resurgence. They have released three studio albums, all of which have been extremely successful. Their debut album, “Sigh No More”, was released in 2010 and reached number two on the UK charts. Their second album, “Babel”, was released in 2012 and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Their most recent album, “Wilder Mind”, was released in 2015 and debuted at number one on the UK charts.
If you are a fan of Mumford & Sons or if you are interested in exploring the genre of folk pop further, here are five other artists you should check out:
The Lumineers: The Lumineers are an American folk pop band from Denver, Colorado. They released their debut album in 2012 and it reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Their single “Ho Hey” was a top ten hit in several countries and won them a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album.
Of Monsters and Men: Of Monsters and Men are an Icelandic indie folk pop band that formed in 2010. They released their debut album “My Head Is an Animal” in 2011 and it was a huge success, reaching number one in Iceland and number six on the US Billboard 200 chart. The single “Little Talks” was a top ten hit in several countries and won them a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
The Paper Kites: The Paper Kites are an Australian indie folk rock band from Melbourne. They released their debut album “States” in 2012 and it reached number two on the ARIA charts (the Australian equivalent of the Billboard 200). The single “Bloom” was a top ten hit in Australia and won them an APRA AMCOS Music Award for Most Played Alternative Work.
Ben Howard: Ben Howard is an English singer-songwriter who first gained attention with his EP “Games In The Open” in 2011. His debut album “Every Kingdom” was released later that year to critical acclaim. It reached number four on the UK charts and won him the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist. His sophomore album “I Forget Where We Were” was released in 2014 to even greater success, reaching number one on the UK charts and winning him another Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist as well as a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
Notable Works
Mumford & Sons is a British band that formed in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Ted Dwane. The group garnered acclaim with their debut album, Sigh No More, which was released in 2009. The album peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts and has been certified 4x platinum in the United States. The band’s follow-up album, Babel, was released in 2012 and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Mumford & Sons’ latest album, Wilder Mind, was released in 2015 and debuted at No. 1 on both the UK and US charts.